Crime in Bersted: statistics, rates and trends
1,137 crimes were recorded in Bersted in the 12 months to August 2026, 100.7 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Shoplifting (328), violence and sexual offences (267) and anti-social behaviour (173) made up 68% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,216th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Bersted | Arun | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,137 | 15,129 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 100.7 | 89.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +7% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 11,291 | 170,064 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Bersted of any year here (1,137 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 18%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,137 | 100.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,064 | 94.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 893 | 79.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,019 | 90.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 977 | 86.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 968 | 85.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 919 | 81.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 993 | 87.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 965 | 85.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 118 |
| July 2026 | 124 |
| June 2026 | 100 |
| May 2026 | 99 |
| April 2026 | 99 |
| March 2026 | 69 |
| February 2026 | 90 |
| January 2026 | 80 |
| December 2025 | 98 |
| November 2025 | 74 |
| October 2025 | 93 |
| September 2025 | 93 |
Compared with England and Wales, Bersted recorded notably more shoplifting (3.4 times the national rate), and notably less criminal damage and arson (33% below) and violence and sexual offences (31% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 209 to 328 and anti-social behaviour rose from 136 to 173, while burglary fell from 67 to 29 and criminal damage and arson fell from 93 to 51.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 328 | 29.0 | 8.5 | +57% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 267 | 23.6 | 34.2 | 0% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 173 | 15.3 | 15.4 | +27% |
| Public order | 80 | 7.1 | 6.7 | -1% |
| Other theft | 62 | 5.5 | 6.4 | -10% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 51 | 4.5 | 6.7 | -45% |
| Vehicle crime | 49 | 4.3 | 5.0 | -17% |
| Drugs | 36 | 3.2 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Burglary | 29 | 2.6 | 3.6 | -57% |
| Other crime | 24 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0% |
| Robbery | 19 | 1.7 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 10 | 0.9 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Bersted; the highest is Hotham (223.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Felpham East (34.3).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bersted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orchard | 895 | 132.6 | +32% |
| Pevensey | 545 | 114.4 | +14% |
| Hotham | 1,436 | 223.6 | +122% |
| Marine | 1,462 | 182.3 | +81% |
| Aldwick East | 222 | 44.6 | -56% |
| Aldwick West | 287 | 44.2 | -56% |
| Felpham West | 488 | 69.6 | -31% |
| Felpham East | 180 | 34.3 | -66% |
The 10 locations below account for 55% of the crime recorded in Bersted over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Petrol Station” (192).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 192 |
| On or near Supermarket | 143 |
| On or near Durlston Drive | 63 |
| On or near Headley Drive | 43 |
| On or near Laurel Grove | 43 |
| On or near Elm Tree Close | 35 |
| On or near Orchard Place | 30 |
| On or near St Clare'S Gardens | 30 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 28 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 24 |
Of the 964 crimes in Bersted with a recorded outcome, 50% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 173 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 483 | 50.1% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 254 | 26.3% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 88 | 9.1% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 45 | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 25 | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 25 | 2.6% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 16 | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Bersted has an estimated population of 11,291 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.7%, against 7.9%), fewer households without a car (15%, against 23%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (22%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Bersted average decile 5.5 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Bersted | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 61.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 22.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 22.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 15.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 71.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.5 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 10.8% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Bersted a safe place to live?
Bersted recorded 100.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,216th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting.
What is the most common crime in Bersted?
Shoplifting was the most common category, with 328 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (267).
Is crime in Bersted going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bersted was up 7% on the year before: 1,137 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,064 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Bersted?
About 11,291 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 21% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Bersted?
Bersted is policed by Sussex.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.